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4.Environmental Analysis Seldom-Seen Zone,which are areas visible beyond the Background Zone. The Foreground- — Middleground Zone is more visible to the public and,therefore,changes are more noticeable and more likely to cause public concern. _ The sensitivity level analysis is a measure of public concern for preserving the scenic quality of an area. It is based on the types of users,the amount of use of an area,the existing public interest, and adjacent land uses. The third component in the Visual Resources Inventory is the scenic quality of an area,which is — broken down into units from various viewsheds. It measures the visual appeal of each unit from seven key factors: landform,vegetation,water,color,adjacent scenery,scarcity, and cultural modification. In essence,greater diversity in these categories corresponds to a greater degree of — visual quality,whereas muted or uniform landscapes usually equate with lower visual quality. The following are the detailed descriptions of each rating criterion as it relates to scenic quality (BLM,2001). — Scenic Quality—Explanation of Rating Criteria Landform —' The BLM manual considers that topography becomes more interesting as it gets steeper or more massive,or more severely or universally sculptured. Outstanding landforms may be monumental, or they may be exceedingly artistic and subtle as certain badlands,pinnacles,arches,and other extraordinary formations.The project site is mostly flat and does not contain an interesting landscape in terms of topography and landform diversity,and would therefore receive below — average quality rating for this category. Vegetation This category gives primary consideration to the variety of patterns,forms,and textures created by plant life. In addition, smaller scale vegetation features which add striking and intriguing detail elements to the landscape(e.g.,gnarled or windbeaten trees,and Joshua trees).The project area — contains some variation in vegetation, apricot and almond orchards of different ages,agricultural crops,and occasional stands of eucalyptus,and would therefore receive an average quality rating for this category. — Water This category considers water an ingredient that adds movement or serenity to a scene.The degree to which water dominates the scene is the primary consideration in selecting the rating score. In the case of the project area, there are a number of manmade irrigation canals and one seasonal creek;therefore,the area would receive an average rating for this category. Color The BLM manual considers the overall color(s) of the basic components of the landscape (e.g., soil,rock,vegetation,etc.)as they appear during seasons or periods of high use. Key factors to use when rating"color"are variety,contrast,and harmony.The project area contains little _ RMC Pacific Vernalis Quarry Mining and Reclamation Project 4.12$ ESA/203015 Draft Environmental Impact Report May 2006